Hulkenberg: I would feel ready and I do feel ready for Ferrari

Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday insisted that he is ready to take up the challenge should Ferrari sign him up for the 2014 season .

Earlier, Welt newspaper said that negotiations between the Italian team and the Sauber driver have begun.

At the same time, Britain’s Guardian newspaper said that Ferrari will decide after this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, and Monza in a fortnight’s time, whether or not to replace Brazilian Felipe Massa.

Asked at Spa on Thursday about the rumours, Hulkenberg – who switched from Force India to the Ferrari-powered Sauber over the winter – told the broadcaster Sky: “I would feel ready and I do feel ready.”

Nico Hulkenberg during the German GP

He said he is in talks with multiple teams: “I wouldn’t name [Ferrari] the ultimate drive but obviously it is a big team with a big history.

“I wouldn’t exclude anyone at this point, we are talking to different teams and evaluating all the options, and when the time is right we will decide what we think is best for my future,” Hulkenberg added.

It has be suggested that, Kimi Raikkonen is the cork in the bottle of the 2014 driver market as he has been linked with as he is linked with top three top teams Lotus, Red Bull and Ferrari.

But Hulkenberg insists the market is “not neccessarily dependent all on [Raikkonen].” (GMM.)